Referee Watch With SFC Ref 20th March Monday, 20th Mar 2023 08:30 by SFC Ref In the first of his two regular articles SFC Ref takes a look at the VAR decisions in the Saints game against Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's followed by the other big games over the weekend. Southampton V Tottenham Hotspur (Simon Hooper) Before I start on the Spurs game let's take a quick look at our midweek game against Brentford this might not of had much VAR controversy in it, but it did have still a fair few officiating issues in my book. As Michael Salisbury was in the middle for that one and had a fairly poor game in my books, with him intervening with play, crossing his calls with his AR’s, having no idea of the restarts quite clearly multiple times in the game as well as a fair few other incidents. As yes non were major or match changing, but still wasn’t the greatest of games for him, and do think that it’s just ironic how a ref that gets a close pen/red card decision right can be hammered for it by the media, even with the rest of their game being good, yet a poor official with no major VAR calls to make gets no attention at all. But still hopefully it was just a poor day for him and more of a one off for him. But going into Saturdays game, Simon Hooper had a fairly decent game from what I saw live at the stadium, not falling for all the simulation from both teams, and letting the game flow with contact as it should. And he also did well for all the major decisions he had to make as this game did have a fair few incidents to look over for him and VAR to deal with.
As all 3 of Spurs goals and our first 2 had no real controversies around them, and were all rightfully awarded. But outside of that there were only 2 half incidents for Hooper and VAR to deal with. As VAR did check for a supposed handball against Maitland-Niles during the second half, but decided that it wasn’t one, and seeing how it wasn’t even on MOTD was obviously nothing major. As I saw it his hand make contact with the ball, but it was all curled up right next to his body, and was never an offence, so VAR was right not to get involved there. The only other major incident for Hooper to deal with this game was the penalty we got for a foul on Maitland-Niles. As this is another one that I did get a decent angle from the stands for, and when seeing it on MOTD saw exactly what I thought I had previously. As it’s a fairly clear that the spurs defender kicks into Niles and clearly commits it in a careless manner, hence why a penalty was rightfully awarded.
So overall a great game for Hooper and VAR, who got all their major decisions correct and in my book Hooper showed one of the best officiating displays I’ve seen at St Mary’s all season. So a great game for the officials. To read my footballing take on the Saints V Spurs game click on the link below. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/59878/saints-watch-with- Forest VS Newcastle (Paul Tierney) This game was one of those that did go in saints’s favour this weekend, and this one had a bit to do for Tierney, with penalty shouts, goals being ruled out, controversies and all sorts to deal with. But whether all were correct or not we’ll be having a look at right now. As Newcastle had a goal ruled out for an offside offence, which I saw many people quite confused about when it was first given, and in my books rightfully so. As it’s all to do with the offside “resetting”. As when the ball was played by the Newcastle player, the player was in an offside position and did certainly intervene with play by playing the ball. But the major controversy and questions were around why the offside wasn’t “reset” when the Forest player played the ball between this. As for an offside to “reset” it must be INTENTIONALLY played by an opposing player for a situation like this, meaning that deflections do not count and wouldn’t reset the offside. As that is why VAR sent Tierney to the monitor, to see if in his eyes it was an intentional play or simply a deflection, which he saw as a deflection hence why the decision was overturned and the goal was ruled out.
But in my opinion this was the wrong call, as a deflection is more or less when a player has no time to react, doesn’t know where the ball is or heading and is simply due to luck of where and when it hits the player. But this wasn’t a deflection in my opinion as the player did have time to react, and is quite clearly sticking his leg out to play the ball away as a clearance (which is classified as playing the ball) to prevent the low cross from coming in, which goes to the Newcastle player in the offside position, but as the ball was played intentionally the offside should’ve been “reset” therefore the goal should’ve stood. So in my view this was poor mistake from VAR and Tierney and one that they shouldn’t be making. Newcastle then later on had a penalty given to them for a handball offence, but I don’t think anyone could argue with this from the replays, as it was that blatant that no Forest player or coach complained whatsoever when it was awarded or after the game. So the right call from Tierney there in my books. So overall a mixed game for VAR and Tierney, as I myself watched this game live and thought that Tierney was fair throughout the game, but did certainly think that him and VAR did mess up with the offside call, but thankfully it had no major impact on the result to this game. Aston Villa VS Bournemouth (Robert Jones) This game didn’t have too much to discuss when it came down to the officiating with Jones in the middle. As all 3 of Villa’s goals were perfectly fine, and other than a few half shouts here and there for pens, there wasn’t too much to discuss. Although Villa did have a fair shout in the first half for a penalty against Bournemouth for a handball offence. But these appeals were turned down by Jones and backed by VAR, as his hands were in a natural position just in front of his body, with it certainly not being intentional, so rightfully, nothing was awarded. But other than that, there wasn’t much more with VAR just having to rightfully rule out a Villa goal for the ball clearly going out of play, so was spot on in ruling out Villa’s goal there. So overall a fairly easy and straight forward game for Jones and VAR, but as we’ve seen many times before that still doesn’t mean there won’t be any mistakes. But certainly a good performance from the officials who did well in officiating this game correctly. Brentford VS Leicester (Darren Bond) Very little to talk about for this game that Bond was in the middle for. As both goals are perfectly valid and as much as there was a red card, it was for two clear yellow card incidents, with both having cautionings rightfully awarded. So a fairly straight forward game for Bond and VAR. Wolves VS Leeds (Michael Salisbury) As I said before, I wasn’t too impressed with Salisbury when he officiated out game between us and Brentford on Wednesday, so I was always going to be quite interested in how he performed from the highlights I saw on MOTD to this game, which was an important one for the relegation scrap. And from what I heard before watching MOTD, it didn’t sound like wolves fans were either. As their clash with Leeds seemed to have everything possible when it came down to officiating decisions! Leeds’s first 3 goals as well as both of Wolves’s goals that did stand, were all perfectly fine, with no real controversies around them, but it was Leeds last goal as well as the other incidents where all the controversies lie. As wolves wanted a penalty after Leeds got the opener, but VAR and Salisbury both said no to it, and the appeals were turned down. And in my view this was the correct decision as there is minimal contact there and the forward went down far too easily and wasn’t enough for a penalty, although we have seen them given before. We then had a half shout for a red for a Wolves lad before half time, but he was only given a cautioning, which I myself agree was all that was needed. But during the second half, just after wolves got their second goal, there was a sending off for a wolves lad for serious foul play, and in my books was the correct call and VAR was correct to get involved here.
But the controversies continued, as Leeds last goal had many of Wolves lot angry at the officials. As they beloved that there was a supposed foul in the buildup to the goal, yet Salisbury played on. But a rare incident occurred, as VAR did request for him to go to the monitor, but after reviewing the incident decided to stand by the original decision and ignore VAR’s suggestion, which has only happened 1 other time this season. In my opinion VAR probably should’ve given a foul to Wolves there as there is a pull on the wolves players shirt just before he looses the ball, which is almost always a foul, and is almost always given as one in situations like this. And many Wolves players and staff weren’t happy with this, which resulted in Nunes getting sent off for having too much of a go at the 4th official, which was quite satisfying to see. But irrelevant of whether it’s a foul or not, you never stop playing as you play to the whistle, and that’s something that kids are taught, yet wolves didn’t do this, and irrelevant of what you think about the supposed foul before the goal, Wolves shouldn’t have stopped playing and only made the situation worse and also have themselves to blame for this goal. As if they hadn’t of stopped and switched off then they may not have conceded the goal, although it wasn’t too major in the result to this game. So in my opinion, as much as Salisbury wasn’t the greatest for our midweek game, from what I’ve seen he had a mixed game here. As VAR did everything correct in my view, and Salisbury got most of the decisions correct but really should’ve ruled out Leeds’s 4th goal for a pull on Triore. But still that decision didn’t have the biggest impact on the result to this game, and the wolves fans can hardly complain much around the major decisions for this game. Chelsea VS Everton (Darren England) One of the quieter games for the officials from this weekends action. As all 3 of the open play goals had no issues around them. And Chelsea’s penalty was one of the most blatant ones I’ve seen in a while, with if anything, 2 fouls being committed on Reece James to earn the penalty, which England rightfully awarded and VAR rightfully backed. Arsenal VS Crystal Palace (Stuart Attwell) Of course Vieira had just been sacked only two days before this game took place, with Palace still yet to win a single game this calendar year. As this both did and didn’t come as a shock to many, but it was always going be interesting to see how their game against Arsenal went on Sunday and how Attwell did on officiating this game. As the result to this game was yet another which went in saints’s favour with Palace loosing yet again and getting sucked even further into this seasons relegation scrap. But this result had very little to do with Attwell or VAR, with Arteta having nothing to complain about this week! As all 4 of arsenals goals had no issues around them at all, but the one goal Palace did get the same can’t be said for. As like I’ve said before, for a handball offence to be given it must ether be intentional or be in an unnatural position, but that’s just for regular play, as when a goal is scored with/just starting after hitting a hand, then it will always be ruled out irrelevant of its intent or how natural of a position the arm was in. But from the VAR angles shown, it’s quite hard to tell of whether it does strike the arm or not, but as it’s just not clear enough I think VAR was right to not get involved here as it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. So overall a decent game for Attwell and VAR who didn’t have too much to do, but did manage to do everything that they did face, correctly and officiated this game well. FA Cup Man City VS Burnley (John Brooks) Almost the battle of champions this game was, with the top of the championship, Burnley, up against second place in the prem, but still favourites for the title, Man City. With it also being a big return for a Man City legend, Kompany, coming back to the Etihad’s pitch for the first time in a fair while. As I always thought this game would be an interesting one, which it certainly was, but not in the way I expected it to be. As I thought Man City would win, but I expected Burnley to give them a right challenge, which they certainly did not, with them getting hammered 6-0 by Man City. So due to the score, it wasn’t too big of a deal if VAR or Brooks made any major mistakes, as there was only ever going to be one winner. As I can put a fair few quid on this being not one of Kompany’s fondest memories of the Etihad, but thankfully it had nothing to do with VAR or Brooks, who from the highlights I’ve seen fit all the major calls correct. As there weren’t any issues from any of Man City’s 6 goals, and other than that there weren’t any major decisions for VAR to intervene with. So a fairly easy and good game from Brooks and VAR. Sheffield United VS Blackburn (Tim Robinson) The one game from this weekend which didn’t have any premier league teams involved whatsoever, but did still have and use VAR as it’s used in all fixtures from the quarter finals onwards for the FA Cup this season, irrelevant of whether it’s at a premier league stadium or not. But would that have made much of an impact on the result to this game if it hadn’t of had VAR? Well we’ll have a look at that now. As we had some major decisions right from the get go for Robinson to make in this game. As Blackburn were awarded a penalty in the first half to this game, for a handball offence against a Sheffield united defender, Jack Robinson. As when I first heard this incident it was on talksport, where they said it was ridiculous, but after seeing the replays it’s quite clearly the correct decision. As his hand is sticking out (so in an unnatural position) and makes clear contact with the ball. As it’s rather as to how he wasn’t sent off and was only cautioned which was surprising to me, as it’s what’s most likely a goal which the offence has stopped.
But still other than that there isn’t much more to look at with all of the other 4 goals being perfectly fine with no issues from ether teams around this game. So it would’ve been interesting to see how this game would’ve gone if VAR wasn’t involved and there hadn’t been such an early pen to Blackburn, but either way it was rightfully awarded and the only questionable decision was whether it should’ve been a cautioning or a sending of for Jack Robinson. So a decent game for VAR and Robinson, although I do wonder as to why Robinson wasn’t sent of… Brighton VS Grimsby (Jarred Gillett) We’ll really it should’ve been us Saints fans having the day out in Brighton over at the Amex, but due to that appalling display against Grimsby, it was they who had the day out in Brighton, and there chance to make Wembley. Still it was Gillett in the middle for this game, who even with a prem us against a league 1 team, still had a few things to do. As Brighton's 5 goals were all perfectly fine, but just after they got their first, their was a close call for whether the seagulls goalie handled the ball outside his box or not, which would’ve resulted in being a straight red if so. But Gillett dismissed these claims, and after a VAR review they agreed with the original decision.
And I’ve seen a few fans a bit confused by this as some of his hand and ball were outside the box, but as you may remember with giving away a penalty, if the balls on the line then it’s classified as being in the box, and if it’s in the box then the keeper can handle it. So overall not too much for Gillett or VAR to get involved in, but still everything they did have to check and give all seemed perfectly fine to me. So a good game from the officials to this one. Man United VS Fulham (Christopher Kavanagh) The only full premier league clash for the FA cups quarter final, and one which I personally sensed an upset could be occurring in. But it was a game where Kavanagh was in the middle and had a quite interesting game to officiate, which was certainly very unpredictable as each minute went by. As the first half was a fairly quiet and easy one for Kavanagh, with very little to look at, but it’s the second half where things all become a lot more heated and difficult to manage. As Fulham deservedly took the lead early in the first half through a goal by Mitrovic, which did have a slight bit of controversy around it. As Rashford went down during this corner as did have a Fulham player go into him, but VAR didn’t intervene and in my books rightfully so, as it was Maguire who pushed the Fulham player into Rashford, who just got caught in the middle of it all, but was just as much a foul on the Fulham player as there was on Rashford, so the goal rightfully stood. Fulham where then all over Man U for the next 25 minutes, up until a major in Indy occurred just past the 70th minute. As Man U were on the counter attack and Sancho had gotten around the keeper and defence, yet had a shot on an open goal, which was deflected away by Willian. When seeing this live on the tele, I originally thought it had hit Willian’s chest like he suggested it had, but as soon as I saw the replay of Willian clearly sticking out his right arm to handball it off of the line. So knew straight away that it was a pen all day long with a straight red being also due, as it may have been in the box, but wasn’t a genuine attempt to play the ball, hence why it would still be a red card offence. And VAR clearly thought the same as they sent Kavanagh to the monitor, which is when it all started to kick off. As when he had just got to the monitor, Silva clearly said something he shouldn’t of to the ref, as many of his staff members were trying to hold him back, but once he’d said it Kavanagh dismissed him straight away, and rightfully so. But after seeing the footage of the incident, Kavanagh overturned his original decision and rightfully awarded man united a penalty and sent Willian off for a DOGSO offence. But that still wasn’t it for Kavanagh as he then had Mitrovic by his side shouting at him (almost certainly abusive stuff as well) whilst this was occurring, pointing his finger at him and acting like he was the one in charge. But the imbecile only confirmed his own fate as soon as he shoved the ref, and was rightfully dismissed for this offence, with it all of Fulham's holes of Wembley collapsing within just a few minutes. But even then, after he issues the second red, Kavanagh then had many Fulham players start to surround him in a threatening way, which required Man U players and even some Fulham coaches to entered the field of play to try and protect the ref! But thankfully nothing else major occurred here, but really the FA should also be handing out many more suspensions to all the other Fulham players who were going for the ref at this point. But once the situation has calmed down, Man U scored their penalty and put the game to bed by getting another 2 more goals before Full Time to get their trip to Wembley secured, which looked far from being done only 20 minutes beforehand, and if Fulham had stayed composed may not of happened at all. But still there wasn't too much more controversy during this period, as Man U did have another penalty shout, but in my view there wasn’t enough in it and it certainly wasn’t clear and obvious so VAR and Kavanagh were right to award nothing there. As the idiot that is Mitrovic is looking like he could face a lengthy ban, and rightfully so, where if he’s to be suspended for 8 or more games will also be suspended for our clash against Fulham at St Mary's in May. But really in my books he should be suspended for 10 games, resulting in him being suspended for the rest of the season, so that it teaches the jerk a lesson as well as setting the ground for everyone else at both pro and grassroots level that you should never go for an official! But I do also hope that Silva also becomes suspended as the fact that he’s blamed Kavanagh for this result, when it was his lot that threw it away, and lost their heads, whilst the officials got all the major decisions spot on, just shows how pathetic this sport is getting now with blaming officials as managers and players look for excuses. As he says that there was also a supposed foul on Mitrovic and penalty that should’ve been given to Fulham during the first half, and Tahiti’s why he kicked off when the VAR review went on for Man U’s penalty, but I can’t seem to find this supposed pen to Fulham anywhere, which does very much suggest that it wasn’t one and it’s just more pure waffle and excuses. As it’s not often that I want Man U to win a game with how this fan base is, but this game sure was an exception, and it was quite satisfying to see a Fulham team looking like they were certain for Wembley get some Karma and end up throwing it all away with the severe lack of respect they showed. As Kavanagh and VAR got all their major decisions right in my opinion. And the fact that he still got abuse and dissent from many of the Fulham lot, just highlights the issues in todays game and that the FA do finally need to step in and do something about it all once and for all to set an example for both the pro and grassroots level of the game. But still a great game from Kavanagh and VAR, who did well to manage what was a very challenging game. Weekly conclusion + LOTG quiz Well in the premier league, I think that VAR only made two mistakes, which thankfully had no major impacts on the results to either game. As the incident in the build up to Leeds’s 4th goal was a debatable one, but in my books not correct, but still you could at least understand why they didn’t give it. But the Newcastle goal being ruled out for offside really was a baffling decision, even from a referees perspective like myself. So that one really was a major mess up. But still, only 1/2 mistakes from 7 games certainly isn’t that bad of a tally, especially for how many incidents many of these games had this week. In the FA Cup, I think VAR and the officials had a decent set of games getting arguably all the major decisions right, with it just being whether the Sheffield United defender, Robinson, should’ve been sent off or not being the only debatable one I saw left. But still a decent performance form the FA Cup officials especially Kavanagh and all he had to deal with. But hopefully the FA will be doing something about that game, as we see soo often on the media of the criticism of officials and how they should be banned/sacked, but after what happened on Sunday evening, I think the same can be said for man of Fulham’s players and staff, who should be ashamed of what they did, and hopefully will be punished with more than just the usual fines. So overall a fairly decent gameweek for VAR no then officials, with only one major mess up, and two debatable ones, which outta all the incidents they faced from the 11 games we looked at, isn’t that bad of a performance, but does still show there is still room for improvement. But now it’s time for this gameweeks LOTG questions, which like usual, I’ll post the answers to just before the next post is done… But as always, if anyone’s got any “out there” questions to ask, I could always use some of them for future quiz questions. Q1= A penalty is awarded to Team A. The identified taker does is doing their run up to the penalty, but just before they get to the ball, act like they’re going to kick it by fully swinging at the ball (but intentionally missing it) and then take another step forward, kicks the ball and scores. What do you give, if anything, now? Q2= A corner kick is awarded to Team A. As they’re winning, and there’s not much time left, the taker decides to kick the ball back to the halfway like where his goalie is, but he mishits it and due to high levels of wind, it flies into the team A’s own net. What do you give now? Q3= Team B have a throw in. The taker deliberately throws the ball at an opponent, in a non forceful or harmful manner, to be able to play the ball again, which they do. What do you give now? Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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